Healing Intelligence: Psychedelics, Health, and Our Inherent Capacity for Healing
By Madison Margolin
The advent of psychedelic consciousness in mainstream culture has pedestaled "healing" as one of the main reasons people cite for journeying with a substance. Indeed, the headlines parading ketamine for depression, mushrooms for anxiety, and MDMA for PTSD have placed "healing" as a primary function of the psychedelic experience—albeit in the context of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, which includes both preparation and integration sessions on either side of the actual journey. Despite the widespread attention toward the healing cause, less understood, however, is the mechanism by which psychedelics actually enable us to heal. And is it the substance, anyway, that is doing the healing, or is it simply opening a channel within the individual that allows for transformation to take place?
One term that has emerged is "healing intelligence." While it may sound lofty or even a bit vague, it's imperative to unpack this concept—especially as we delve into the healing paradigm in which psychedelics have been couched, vis-à-vis their reputation in the mid-late 20th century counterculture.
Indeed, nowadays, partying and drug culture is less seen about getting messed up and more so about getting well. In fact, in the context of ayahuasca, for instance, "getting well" is a euphemism used to describe its very common effect of causing the individual to vomit—seen as a physical release of all the psycho-somatic stuff holding back our highest selves.
Let it be known, however, that psychedelics may carry intrinsic healing potential, but not every psychedelic experience is necessarily healing. Without proper attention paid to set and setting, which includes establishing one's intention for the journey, a psychedelic experience could unfortunately be harmful, as well. All that said, even outside the official context of clinical psychedelic-assisted therapy, psychedelics can awaken what's known as one's "inner healer," meaning to say that through their paradigm-shifting potential, by dampening the ego-driven way of thought and behavior so set into our mundane patterning, they can help a truer essence of self come through—the soul, if you will—and it's that inner truth that is inherently good and health, with a natural proclivity to help heal whatever has thus far stood in its way.
In a research paper about the "myth or mechanism" of the "inner healer," scientist Robin Carhart-Harris and colleagues explore the prevalent concept of an intrinsic healing mechanism within the psychedelic experience. This "inner healer" is believed to suggest that psychedelic substances possess regenerative properties that can positively affect the mind and brain, similar to the body’s natural healing processes after sickness or injury. The study aimed to investigate this idea by implementing a subjective rating item to assess perceived "inner healing" effects among participants.
The research involved 59 patients who received either a high dose or a placeboof psilocybin in a double-blind randomized controlled trial focusing on depression. The results showed that participants who received the high dose reported significantly higher scores related to the inner healer compared to those given the placebo. Additionally, within the high-dose group, scores indicating inner healing predicted a decrease in depressive symptoms two weeks post-treatment.
Who is the Inner Healer?
Internally, we have many parts: An inner child, an inner parent, an inner healer, and even an inner critic, among most probably several others. The inner healer embodies the capacity for self-compassion, growth, and transformation, providing a gentle guide that encourages us to embrace our past experiences and move toward healing. Conversely, the inner critic often emerges as a harsh voice, promoting self-doubt and negative self-perception. This duality is familiar to many on the healing path and the path of self-discovery, especially within the context of psychedelic experience, where we confront these inner voices at a higher volume.
The inner healer is not an external force but an intrinsic part of our being, waiting for the opportunity to be acknowledged and activated. This healer thrives in safe and supportive environments, where individuals can explore their vulnerabilities without fear of judgment. Psychedelic experiences can activate this healing aspect, allowing individuals to confront their inner critic with newfound awareness and compassion. In the right supportive setting, a person may be able to nurture and bring forward the inner healer, and tackle with care, the inner critic. Indeed, by fostering self-acceptance and nurturing our innate wisdom, we can start to silence the inner critic and cultivate a stronger connection to our healing potential.
Integrating the insights gained during psychedelic experiences often involves a conscious effort to reframe our inner dialogues. Recognizing the inner critic's voice is the first step toward weakening its grip. By validating and acknowledging its presence, we can begin to respond with kindness and understanding rather than fear. In fact, we can even become curious about the inner critic, acknowledging that its goal is still in our best interest, albeit its way of "protecting" us is misguided.
There must actually be a harmonious balance between the inner healer and the inner critic, as all inner voices can coexist. Embracing the inner healer allows us to transform the criticisms of our inner critic into constructive feedback. The essence of this exploration lies in understanding that healing is multifaceted and that both of these inner figures play essential roles in our journey.
Set, Setting, and the Inner Healer's Environment
Let’s be clear: psychedelics aren’t magic bullets. Their healing potential depends heavily on set and setting—the mindset and intentions you bring to the experience and the environment in which it unfolds. A poorly planned trip, without intention or support, can be disorienting or even traumatic. Needless to say, it's not guaranteed that your inner healer will have the safety to surface, and even if it does in a context with little premeditation, it is not clear whether its wisdom will carry sustained benefits without an integration practice in place for after the journey is over.
A well cultivated set and setting are where the inner healer thrives. A safe, supportive environment—whether it’s a quiet clinic, a jungle maloca, or a lush forest—signals to your nervous system that it’s okay to let go, to be vulnerable, to explore the parts of yourself you’ve buried. Intention is equally critical. Often journeyers will go into an experience with the vague intention "to heal." While this may be inviting to the "inner healer," it may also be too vague to mean much. To give the inner healer somewhat of a roadmap, a healing intention can be more specific like, "to understand my grief" or "to work on my relationship with my mother." Without clear intentions, the experience can feel disorienting or ungraspable. It can also be helpful to share your intention with your guide, a friend, or whoever is holding the space so they can help keep you on track in case things start to get hazy.
The Bigger Picture: Personal and Collective Healing
Healing intelligence may be more than just an individual phenomenon, but also a collective one. The more each of us can tap into our own healing intelligence, the collective consciousness may have a natural inclination toward healing, as well. Psychedelics, by reconnecting us to our inner wisdom, also open a window to something larger: a sense of interconnectedness with each other and the planet. This is why so many psychedelic experiences involve ecological or spiritual insights—visions of the earth as a living system, or a felt sense of unity with all beings.
This collective healing potential is especially relevant now, as we grapple with the mental health crisis and the fallout of a hyper-individualistic culture. Psychedelics remind us that healing isn’t just about fixing ourselves; it’s about reweaving the fabric of community, culture, and ecology. The inner healer, when activated, doesn’t just mend personal wounds—it inspires us to show up more fully for the world.
